Toilet seat

ABSTRACT

According to the embodiment, a toilet seat including: a bottom plate; a top plate including a sidewall part and a seating part; and a bonding member bonding the bottom plate and the sidewall part and having an exposed surface, the sidewall part including a sidewall base, a first hanging part extending downward from a lower end of the sidewall base, and a second hanging part provided to be separated from the first hanging part at the lower end of the sidewall base to provide a recess recessed upward between the first and second hanging parts, the second hanging part being disposed at a position not overlapping the bottom plate in a vertical direction, the bonding member being provided in the recess, the exposed surface being disposed between the second hanging part and the bottom plate, a width of the second hanging part decreasing downward from the sidewall base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of International ApplicationPCT/JP2018/013643, filed on Mar. 30, 2018. This application also claimspriority to Japanese Application No. 2018-063583, filed on Mar. 29,2018; the entire contents of each are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to a toilet seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For example, a toilet seat is configured by bonding a bottom plateprovided at the toilet side to a top plate contacted by the buttocks.Japanese Patent No. 3733778 discusses technology in which these partsmade of resin are bonded by filling a bonding resin into a passagewayformed between the parts made of resin.

To improve the cleanability of the toilet seat, it is desirable tosuppress the occurrence of a joint, a step, a gap, etc., at the bondingpart between the top plate and the bottom plate. In a manufacturingmethod in which a resin is filled, compared to other manufacturingmethods, post processes such as grinding, polishing, etc., can bereduced, and a toilet seat that has high cleanability can bemanufactured relatively easily.

On the other hand, in the manufacturing method in which the resin isfilled, it is necessary to prevent the filled resin from leaking to theouter surfaces of the top plate and/or the bottom plate. If the resinundesirably leaks to the outer surfaces of the top plate and/or thebottom plate, the part becomes defective, a process for removing theleaked resin is necessary, and the productivity of the toilet seatundesirably may decrease.

For example, it also may be considered to suppress the resin leakage byproviding a projection at the periphery of an injection inlet of theresin and by increasing the contact pressure of the mold at theperiphery of the injection inlet. However, if such a projectionundesirably remains as-is, the cleanability of the toilet seat maydecrease. On the other hand, the productivity undesirably may decreaseif a process for removing the projection or the like is added. Also,even if the projection is mashed, a new unevenness undesirably may occurdue to deformation of the projection base.

Therefore, in the case where the top plate and the bottom plate arebonded by filling a resin in the toilet seat, it is desirable to obtainhigh cleanability and productivity while appropriately suppressing theresin leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the embodiment, a toilet seat includes a bottom plate, atop plate, and a bonding member. The top plate includes a sidewall partand a seating part. The sidewall part is provided on the bottom plate.The seating part is supported by the sidewall part. The bonding memberbonds the bottom plate and the sidewall part. The bonding member has anexposed surface exposed externally. The sidewall part includes asidewall base, a first hanging part, and a second hanging part. Thesidewall base supports the seating part.

The first hanging part extends downward from a lower end of the sidewallbase. The first hanging part overlaps the bottom plate. The secondhanging part is provided to be separated from the first hanging part atthe lower end of the sidewall base to provide a recess recessed upwardbetween the first hanging part and the second hanging part. The secondhanging part is disposed at a position not overlapping the bottom platein a vertical direction. The bonding member is provided in the recess.The exposed surface is disposed between the second hanging part and thebottom plate. A width of the second hanging part in a thicknessdirection of the sidewall part decreases downward from the sidewallbase. The first hanging part, the recess, and the second hanging partare arranged in the thickness direction of the sidewall part.

A first invention is a toilet seat that includes a bottom plate, a topplate including a sidewall part provided on the bottom plate and aseating part supported by the sidewall part, and a bonding memberbonding the bottom plate and the sidewall part and having an exposedsurface exposed externally; the sidewall part includes a sidewall basesupporting the seating part, a first hanging part extending downwardfrom a lower end of the sidewall base and overlapping the bottom plate,and a second hanging part disposed at a position not overlapping thebottom plate in a vertical direction; the second hanging part isprovided to be separated from the first hanging part at the lower end ofthe sidewall base to provide a recess recessed upward between the firsthanging part and the second hanging part; the bonding member is providedin the recess; the exposed surface is disposed between the secondhanging part and the bottom plate; and a width of the second hangingpart in a thickness direction of the sidewall part in which the firsthanging part, the recess, and the second hanging part are arrangeddecreases downward from the sidewall base.

According to the toilet seat, the width of the second hanging partdecreases downward from the sidewall base; thereby, when manufacturingthe toilet seat by pressing a mold to the bottom plate and the secondhanging part and injecting a resin used to form the bonding member intothe recess from the bottom plate side, the contact area between thesecond hanging part and the mold can be reduced, and the contactpressure (the sealing pressure) between the mold and the lower endportion of the second hanging part which is used as a part of theinjection inlet can be increased. Thereby, the undesirable leakage ofthe injected resin from the injection inlet can be suppressedappropriately even without providing a projection, etc. It isunnecessary to add a process for removing leaked resin, a projection,etc., and the decrease of the productivity can be suppressed.Accordingly, in the case where the top plate and the bottom plate arebonded by filling a resin, a toilet seat can be provided in which highcleanability and productivity can be obtained while appropriatelysuppressing the resin leakage.

A second invention is the toilet seat of the first invention, wherein aside surface of the second hanging part facing away from the recessapproaches the recess side downward from the sidewall base.

According to the toilet seat, the lower end portion of the secondhanging part can be deflected toward the bottom plate side when thepressure accompanying the pressing of the mold is applied to the secondhanging part. In other words, the lower end portion of the secondhanging part can be deflected to make the injection inlet narrow.Furthermore, due to the injection pressure of the resin, a large contactpressure is generated by the lower end portion strongly pressing on themold due to the force of the lower end portion biased to return outward.Thereby, the resin leakage can be suppressed more reliably.

A third invention is the toilet seat of the second invention, in which alower end of the side surface of the second hanging part facing awayfrom the recess is positioned at the recess side of a center in thethickness direction of the second hanging part.

According to the toilet seat, the contact area between the secondhanging part and the mold can be reduced further, and the contactpressure between the mold and the lower end portion of the secondhanging part which is used as a part of the injection inlet can beincreased further. Also, the lower end portion of the second hangingpart can be deflected more reliably toward the bottom plate side whenthe pressure accompanying the pressing of the mold is applied to thesecond hanging part. Furthermore, due to the injection pressure of theresin, a large contact pressure is generated by the lower end portionstrongly pressing on the mold due to the force of the lower end portionbiased to return outward. Thereby, the resin leakage can be suppressedmore reliably.

A fourth invention is the toilet seat of any one of the first to thirdinventions, wherein a width in the thickness direction of a lower end ofthe second hanging part is less than a width in the thickness directionof the exposed surface.

According to the toilet seat, the contact area between the secondhanging part and the mold can be reduced further, and the contactpressure between the mold and the lower end portion of the secondhanging part which is used as a part of the injection inlet can beincreased further. Thereby, the resin leakage can be suppressed morereliably.

A fifth invention is the toilet seat of any one of the first to fourthinventions, wherein a bonding part between the second hanging part andthe bonding member approaches the bottom plate side downward from thesidewall base.

According to the toilet seat, the lower end portion of the secondhanging part can be deflected more toward the bottom plate side when thepressure accompanying the pressing of the mold is applied to the secondhanging part. Furthermore, due to the injection pressure of the resin, alarge contact pressure is generated by the lower end portion stronglypressing on the mold due to the force of the lower end portion biased toreturn outward. Thereby, the resin leakage can be suppressed morereliably.

A sixth invention is the toilet seat of any one of the first to fifthinventions, wherein the bottom plate includes an engaging part having arecessed shape, the engaging part is provided at a position opposing thesidewall part and has a recessed shape recessed downward, the firsthanging part engages the engaging part, and a side surface of theengaging part facing away from the second hanging part extends away fromthe second hanging part downward.

According to the toilet seat, the side surface of the engaging partfacing away from the second hanging part is tilted or curved away fromthe second hanging part downward; thereby, when manufacturing the toiletseat by pressing a mold to the bottom plate and the second hanging partand injecting a resin used to form the bonding member into the recessfrom the bottom plate side, the force that accompanies the pressing ofthe mold can be transferred from the side surface of the engaging partto the lower end portion of the part of the bottom plate opposing thesecond hanging part. The lower end portion of the part of the bottomplate opposing the second hanging part is used as a part of an injectioninlet for injecting the resin. Thus, by transferring the forceaccompanying the pressing of the mold to the part of the bottom plateused as the part of the injection inlet, the contact pressure of themold at the periphery of the injection inlet can be increased withoutproviding a projection, etc. Thereby, the undesirable leakage of theinjected resin from the injection inlet can be suppressed appropriatelyeven without providing a projection, etc. It is unnecessary to add aprocess for removing leaked resin, a projection, etc., and the decreaseof the productivity can be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet device including atoilet seat according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the toilet seataccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating a part of thetoilet seat according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in which a part of the cross section ofFIG. 3 is enlarged;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in which a part of the cross section ofFIG. 3 is enlarged;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a manufacturing process ofthe toilet seat according to the embodiment; and

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are cross-sectional views illustrating modificationsof the inner perimeter supporter and the inner perimeter sidewall partaccording to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to thedrawings. Similar components in the drawings are marked with the samereference numerals, and a detailed description is omitted asappropriate.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet device including atoilet seat according to an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the toilet device 2 includes a toilet seatdevice 4 and a western-style sit-down toilet (hereinbelow, called simplythe “toilet”) 6.

The toilet seat device 4 is mounted on the toilet 6. The toilet seatdevice 4 may be mounted to have a continuous body with the toilet 6 ormay be detachably mounted to the toilet 6. The toilet seat device 4includes a toilet seat 10, a toilet lid 12, and a main part 14.

Here, in this specification, upward when viewed by a user sitting on thetoilet seat 10 is taken as “upward”, and downward when viewed by theuser sitting on the toilet seat 10 is taken as “downward”. Also, whenviewed by the user sitting on the toilet seat 10 with the user's backfacing the toilet lid 12 in the open state, the leftward and rightwarddirections are respectively taken as “leftward” and “rightward”, and thefrontward and backward directions are respectively taken as “frontward”and “backward”. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of upward UW, downward DW,leftward LW, rightward RW, frontward FW, and backward BW.

The toilet 6 includes a bowl 6 a recessed downward. The toilet 6receives, in the bowl 6 a, excrement such as urine, feces, etc., of theuser. The main part 14 of the toilet seat device 4 is provided at theupper part of the toilet 6 back of the bowl 6 a. The main part 14 ispivotally supported by the toilet seat 10 and the toilet lid 12 to beopenable and closable.

The toilet seat 10 has an opening 10 a. The toilet seat 10 is providedon the toilet 6 to surround the outer edge of the bowl 6 a, and the bowl6 a is exposed via the opening 10 a. Thereby, the user can excrete intothe bowl 6 a in the state of sitting on the toilet seat 10. In theexample, a so-called O-shaped toilet seat 10 is shown in which theopening 10 a is formed in a through-hole configuration. The toilet seat10 is not limited to being O-shaped and may be U-shaped, etc. A heaterthat warms the seating part (the part contacted by the buttocks of theuser), etc., may be provided as appropriate inside the toilet seat 10.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the toilet seataccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating a part of thetoilet seat according to the embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the toilet seat 10 includes abottom plate 100, a top plate 200, and bonding members 310 and 320. Thetop plate 200 is provided on the bottom plate 100. The bottom plate 100and the top plate 200 are bonded by the bonding member 310 and thebonding member 320.

A more specific structure of the toilet seat 10 will now be described.Here, the directions of “upward”, “downward”, etc., are referenced tothe state in which the bottom plate 100 of the toilet seat 10 is placedon a horizontal surface (the state of being placed on the toilet 6 sothat the user can be seated).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom plate 100 and the top plate 200respectively have an opening 100 a and an opening 200 a. The shapes ofthe bottom plate 100 and the top plate 200 when viewed from above aresubstantially the same as the shape of the toilet seat 10 when viewedfrom above. In other words, the shapes of the bottom plate 100 and thetop plate 200 when viewed from above are ring-shaped or U-shaped. Theopening 10 a of the toilet seat 10 is formed of the opening 100 a of thebottom plate 100 and the opening 200 a of the top plate 200.

The bottom plate 100 includes an inner perimeter supporter 110, an outerperimeter supporter 120, and a bottom plate base 130. The thickness ofthe bottom plate base 130 is substantially uniform; for example, thefront part is provided along the horizontal direction, and the back partis tilted upward. A support leg 131 that contacts the upper surface ofthe toilet 6 is provided as appropriate in the bottom plate base 130.The inner perimeter supporter 110 is provided at the inner perimeterside of the toilet seat 10 with respect to the bottom plate base 130.The outer perimeter supporter 120 is provided at the outer perimeterside of the toilet seat 10 with respect to the bottom plate base 130.

The top plate 200 includes an inner perimeter sidewall part 210, anouter perimeter sidewall part 220, and a seating part 230. The seatingpart 230 supports, from below, the buttocks of the user seated on thetoilet seat 10. The seating part 230 is supported from below by theinner perimeter sidewall part 210 and the outer perimeter sidewall part220. The inner perimeter sidewall part 210 is provided at the innerperimeter side of the toilet seat 10 with respect to the seating part230. The outer perimeter sidewall part 220 is provided at the outerperimeter side of the toilet seat 10 with respect to the seating part230.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the inner perimeter sidewall part 210 isprovided on the inner perimeter supporter 110 of the bottom plate 100.The outer perimeter sidewall part 220 is provided on the outer perimetersupporter 120 of the bottom plate 100. The lower end of the innerperimeter sidewall part 210 is bonded to the inner perimeter supporter110 by the bonding member 310, and the lower end of the outer perimetersidewall part 220 is bonded to the outer perimeter supporter 120 by thebonding member 320.

The bottom plate base 130 and the seating part 230 are separated in thevertical direction. Also, the inner perimeter sidewall part 210 and theouter perimeter sidewall part 220 are separated in the horizontaldirection. Thereby, an internal space S is formed in the toilet seat 10and surrounded with the bottom plate 100 and the top plate 200.

In the case where the toilet seat 10 is U-shaped, etc., the innerperimeter supporter 110 and the outer perimeter supporter 120 may belinked around the bottom plate base 130, and the inner perimetersidewall part 210 and the outer perimeter sidewall part 220 may belinked around the seating part 230. In such a case, the bonding member310 and the bonding member 320 may be continuous around the bottom platebase 130 and may be provided to have a continuous body.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are cross-sectional views in which parts of the crosssection of FIG. 3 are enlarged.

FIG. 4 illustrates a part of the inner perimeter supporter 110 and apart of the inner perimeter sidewall part 210. FIG. 5 illustrates a partof the outer perimeter supporter 120 and a part of the outer perimetersidewall part 220.

Here, in this specification, the direction from the internal space Stoward the top plate 200 along the horizontal direction is taken as“outward”, and the direction from the top plate 200 toward the internalspace S along the horizontal direction is taken as “inward”. FIG. 4illustrates inward IW and outside OW as referenced to the innerperimeter sidewall part 210, and FIG. 5 illustrates inward IW andoutside OW as referenced to the outer perimeter sidewall part 220.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the inner perimeter supporter 110 of thebottom plate 100 includes an engaging part 112 having a recessed shape.The engaging part 112 is provided at a position opposing the innerperimeter sidewall part 210 and has a recessed shape recessed downward.

The inner perimeter sidewall part 210 includes a first hanging part 211,a second hanging part 212, and a sidewall base 214. The sidewall base214 supports the seating part 230. The first hanging part 211 extendsdownward from the lower end of the sidewall base 214, overlaps the innerperimeter supporter 110 of the bottom plate 100, and engages theengaging part 112.

The second hanging part 212 is provided to be separated from the firsthanging part 211 at the lower end of the sidewall base 214 to provide arecess 216 recessed upward between the first hanging part 211 and thesecond hanging part 212, and is disposed at a position not overlappingthe bottom plate 100 in the vertical direction. The bonding member 310is provided in the recess 216. The bonding member 310 has an exposedsurface 310 a exposed externally. The exposed surface 310 a of thebonding member 310 is disposed between the second hanging part 212 andthe bottom plate 100. The exposed surface 310 a is substantiallycoplanar with the lower end of the second hanging part 212. Also, theexposed surface 310 a is substantially coplanar with a bottom surface100 b of the bottom plate 100. Thereby, the occurrence of a gap, a step,etc., at the bonding part between the bottom plate 100 and the top plate200 can be suppressed, and the cleanability of the toilet seat 10 can beimproved. Here, for example, “substantially coplanar” refers to theheight difference occurring between two adjacent members being 0.3 mm orless.

The first hanging part 211 is provided inward, and the second hangingpart 212 is provided further outward than the first hanging part 211.The second hanging part 212 has a side surface 212 a facing away fromthe recess 216. In other words, the side surface 212 a is a side surfacefacing outward. The side surface 212 a of the second hanging part 212 iscontinuous with a side surface 214 a of the sidewall base 214 facingoutward. In other words, a step or the like is not provided between thesidewall base 214 and the second hanging part 212. Thereby, degradationof the cleanability due to the step or the like can be suppressed, andthe user having discomfort due to the step or the like touching thebottom, a leg, etc., of the user can be suppressed.

The width of the second hanging part 212 in the thickness direction ofthe inner perimeter sidewall part 210 in which the first hanging part211, the recess 216, and the second hanging part 212 are arrangeddecreases downward from the sidewall base 214. In other words, thesecond hanging part 212 becomes thinner downward. Here, “decreasingdownward” is not limited to decreasing continuously downward andincludes decreasing in stages, etc. In other words, parts that havewidths that substantially do not change may be included. Hereinbelow,the expression “-ing downward” similarly may include a part thatsubstantially does not change.

The side surface 212 a of the second hanging part 212 approaches therecess 216 side downward from the sidewall base 214. Thereby, as recitedabove, the width in the thickness direction of the second hanging part212 decreases downward from the sidewall base 214.

For example, the lower end portion of the side surface 212 a of thesecond hanging part 212 approaches the recess 216 side by curving in theform of a convex surface. In other words, so-called rounding of thelower end portion of the second hanging part 212 is performed. Forexample, the lower end portion of the side surface 212 a of the secondhanging part 212 may approach the recess 216 side by being tiltedlinearly. In other words, so-called chamfering of the lower end portionof the second hanging part 212 may be performed. However, by curving thelower end portion of the side surface 212 a in the form of a convexsurface, compared to the case of being tilted linearly, the occurrenceof corners, etc., can be suppressed. For example, the user havingdiscomfort due to the bottom, a leg, etc., of the user touching a corneror the like of the side surface 212 a can be suppressed.

A lower end 212 b of the side surface 212 a of the second hanging part212 is positioned at the recess 216 side of a center Cl in the thicknessdirection of the second hanging part 212. More specifically, forexample, the center Cl in the thickness direction of the second hangingpart 212 is the center in the thickness direction of a part of thesecond hanging part 212 that is not curved or tilted. Or, the center Clis the center of the average of the width in the thickness direction ofthe second hanging part 212.

Also, a width W1 in the thickness direction of the lower end of thesecond hanging part 212 is less than a width W2 in the thicknessdirection of the exposed surface 310 a. The width W2 in the thicknessdirection of the exposed surface 310 a is, for example, about 1 mm(e.g., not less than 0.5 mm and not more than 3 mm). For example, in thecase where the lower end of the second hanging part 212 is continuouswith the exposed surface 310 a at the curved or tilted part, the widthW1 in the thickness direction of the lower end of the second hangingpart 212 limitlessly approaches zero. For example, the width in thethickness direction of the part of the second hanging part 212 that isnot curved or tilted is not less than 1 mm and not more than 2 mm.Thereby, the pressure when filling the resin used to form the bondingmember 310 can be received appropriately by the second hanging part 212while appropriately suppressing an excessively thick second hanging part212.

A side surface 112 a of the engaging part 112 facing away from thesecond hanging part 212 extends away from the second hanging part 212downward. For example, the side surface 112 a extends away from thesecond hanging part 212 downward by tilting linearly. For example, theside surface 112 a may extend away from the second hanging part 212downward by curving in the form of a convex surface or in the form of aconcave surface.

The configuration of the first hanging part 211 corresponds to theconfiguration of the engaging part 112. The shape of the first hangingpart 211 is substantially the same as the shape of the engaging part112. Thereby, the first hanging part 211 engages the engaging part 112.By engaging the engaging part 112, for example, the first hanging part211 suppresses the undesirable flow of the resin into the internal spaceS when filling the resin used to form the bonding member 310.

A virtual line VL that is orthogonal to at least a part of the sidesurface 112 a of the engaging part 112 passes through the exposedsurface 310 a.

The inner perimeter supporter 110 of the bottom plate 100 includes anopposing surface 114 opposing the second hanging part 212, and aprotruding part 116 extending from the lower end portion of the opposingsurface 114 toward the second hanging part 212. The protruding part 116has an upper surface 116 a facing upward. At least a part of the uppersurface 116 a of the protruding part 116 is substantially parallel tothe bottom surface 100 b of the bottom plate 100. Here, for example,“substantially parallel” is the state in which the angle differencebetween the upper surface 116 a and the bottom surface 100 b is ±2° orless.

The protruding part 116 has a side surface 116 b opposing the secondhanging part 212. The side surface 116 b of the protruding part 116approaches the second hanging part 212 downward. For example, the sidesurface 116 b approaches the second hanging part 212 downward by tiltinglinearly. For example, the side surface 116 b may approach the secondhanging part 212 downward by curving in the form of a convex surface orin the form of a concave surface.

Also, the angle between the upper surface 116 a of the protruding part116 and the bottom surface 100 b of the bottom plate 100 is less thanthe angle between the side surface 116 b of the protruding part 116 andthe bottom surface 100 b of the bottom plate 100. The upper surface 116a is not limited to a surface substantially parallel to the bottomsurface 100 b and may be, for example, a surface having a more gradualtilt than the side surface 116 b, etc. The configuration of theprotruding part 116 is not limited to the configurations recited above.For example, the protruding part 116 may have a substantiallyrectangular shape having a substantially horizontal upper surface 116 aand a substantially vertical side surface 116 b, etc. Or, for example,the protruding part 116 may have a configuration in which only the sidesurface 116 b is tilted downward continuously from the opposing surface114, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the outer perimeter supporter 120 of thebottom plate 100 includes an engaging part 122. The outer perimetersidewall part 220 includes a first hanging part 221, a second hangingpart 222, a sidewall base 224, and a recess 226. The bonding member 320is provided in the recess 226 and has an exposed surface 320 a. Otherthan being symmetric with the vertical direction as an axis, theconfigurations of the outer perimeter supporter 120 and the outerperimeter sidewall part 220 are substantially the same as theconfigurations of the inner perimeter supporter 110 and the innerperimeter sidewall part 210. Accordingly, a detailed description of theouter perimeter supporter 120 and the outer perimeter sidewall part 220is omitted.

The bottom plate 100, the top plate 200, the bonding member 310, and thebonding member 320 include, for example, polypropylene, ABS(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene), PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), apolycarbonate composite material, etc.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a manufacturing process ofthe toilet seat according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 illustrates a partof the inner perimeter supporter 110 and a part of the inner perimetersidewall part 210.

As described above, for example, the structures of the outer perimetersupporter 120 and the outer perimeter sidewall part 220 at the bondingmember 320 vicinity and the structures of the inner perimeter supporter110 and the inner perimeter sidewall part 210 at the bonding member 310vicinity are respectively substantially similar. Therefore, here, themanufacturing process of the toilet seat 10 is described using the partof the inner perimeter supporter 110 and the part of the inner perimetersidewall part 210 as an example.

First, the top plate 200 is placed on a mold M1 with the seating part230 downward. At this time, the top plate 200 is fit into the mold M1,and the outer side surface of the top plate 200 is pressed by the moldM1. Subsequently, the bottom plate 100 is placed on the top plate 200.At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the first hanging part 211 ofthe inner perimeter sidewall part 210 engages the engaging part 112 ofthe inner perimeter supporter 110, and the inner perimeter supporter 110is placed on the inner perimeter sidewall part 210 so that a gap that isused as an injection inlet is formed between the protruding part 116 andthe second hanging part 212.

In this state, the bottom plate 100 is pressed downward by a mold M2. Agate G for injecting the resin used to form the bonding member 310 isprovided in the mold M2. The mold M2 is placed on the bottom plate 100and the top plate 200 so that the gate G is positioned at the gapbetween the protruding part 116 and the second hanging part 212.

In this state, a heated resin is injected from the gate G into therecess 216 through the gap between the protruding part 116 and thesecond hanging part 212. When the heated resin is injected into the gap,the surfaces of the bottom plate 100 and the top plate 200 in contactwith the resin are melted by the heat and mix with the resin.Subsequently, the bottom plate 100 and the top plate 200 are bonded bycooling and curing the resin to become the bonding member 310. Afterbonding the bottom plate 100 and the top plate 200, beveling of the tipof the second hanging part 212, deburring of the resin, etc., may beperformed as appropriate. Thus, the toilet seat 10 according to theembodiment is made.

In the toilet seat 10 according to the embodiment as described above,because the widths of the second hanging parts 212 and 222 decreasedownward from the sidewall bases 214 and 224, when manufacturing thetoilet seat 10 by pressing the mold M2 to the bottom plate 100 and thesecond hanging parts 212 and 222 and injecting the resin used to formthe bonding members 310 and 320 into the recesses 216 and 226 from thebottom plate 100 side, the contact area between the mold M2 and thesecond hanging parts 212 and 222 can be small, and the contact pressurebetween the mold M2 and the lower end portions of the second hangingparts 212 and 222 that are parts of the injection inlets can beincreased. Thereby, the undesirable leakage of the injected resin fromthe injection inlet can be suppressed appropriately even withoutproviding a projection, etc. It is unnecessary to add a process forremoving leaked resin, a projection, etc., and the decrease of theproductivity can be suppressed. Accordingly, in the case where the topplate 200 and the bottom plate 100 are bonded by filling a resin, thetoilet seat 10 can be provided in which high cleanability andproductivity can be obtained while appropriately suppressing the resinleakage.

For example, there is a possibility of a greater amount of meltingbetween the resin and the bottom plate 100 and between the resin and thetop plate 200 at the vicinity of the gate G, etc., when the heated resinis injected. In such a case, there is a possibility that it may bedifficult to confirm whether or not the widths of the second hangingparts 212 and 222 decrease downward from the sidewall bases 214 and 224at the vicinity of the gate G, etc. Therefore, the widths of the secondhanging parts 212 and 222 may not always have a relationship ofdecreasing downward from the sidewall bases 214 and 224 for the entirecircumference of the toilet seat 10. The widths of the second hangingparts 212 and 222 may include parts without the relationship ofdecreasing downward from the sidewall bases 214 and 224 for at least apart of the toilet seat 10 in the circumferential direction.

Also, in the toilet seat 10, the side surfaces 212 a and 222 a of thesecond hanging parts 212 and 222 facing away from the recesses 216 and226 approach the recess 216 side and the recess 226 side downward fromthe sidewall bases 214 and 224. Thereby, the lower end portions of thesecond hanging parts 212 and 222 can be deflected toward the bottomplate 100 side when the pressure accompanying the pressing of the moldM2 is applied to the second hanging parts 212 and 222. In other words,the lower end portions of the second hanging parts 212 and 222 can bedeflected to make the injection inlets narrow. Furthermore, due to theinjection pressure of the resin, a large contact pressure is generatedby the lower end portions of the second hanging parts 212 and 222strongly pressing on the mold M2 due to the force of the lower endportions biased to return outward. Thereby, the resin leakage can besuppressed more reliably.

Also, in the toilet seat 10, the lower ends 212 b and 222 b of the sidesurfaces 212 a and 222 a of the second hanging parts 212 and 222 facingaway from the recesses 216 and 226 are positioned at the recess 216 sideand the recess 226 side of the centers Cl in the thickness direction ofthe second hanging parts 212 and 222. Thereby, the contact area betweenthe mold M2 and the second hanging parts 212 and 222 can be reducedfurther, and the contact pressure between the mold M2 and the lower endportions of the second hanging parts 212 and 222 that are parts of theinjection inlets can be increased further. Also, the lower end portionsof the second hanging parts 212 and 222 can be deflected more reliablytoward the bottom plate 100 side when the pressure accompanying thepressing of the mold M2 is applied to the second hanging parts 212 and222. Furthermore, due to the injection pressure of the resin, a largecontact pressure is generated by the lower end portions of the secondhanging parts 212 and 222 strongly pressing on the mold M2 due to theforce of the lower end portions biased to return outward. Thereby, theresin leakage can be suppressed more reliably.

Also, in the toilet seat 10, the widths W1 in the thickness direction ofthe lower ends of the second hanging parts 212 and 222 are less than thewidths W2 in the thickness direction of the exposed surfaces 310 a and320 a. Thereby, the contact area between the mold M2 and the secondhanging parts 212 and 222 can be reduced further, and the contactpressure between the mold M2 and the lower end portions of the secondhanging parts 212 and 222 that are parts of the injection inlets can beincreased further. Thereby, the resin leakage can be suppressed morereliably.

Also, in the toilet seat 10, because the side surfaces 112 a and 122 aof the engaging parts 112 and 122 facing away from the second hangingparts 212 and 222 are tilted or curved away from the second hangingparts 212 and 222 downward, the force that accompanies the pressing ofthe mold M2 can be transferred from the side surfaces 112 a and 122 a ofthe engaging parts 112 and 122 to the lower end portions of the parts ofthe bottom plate 100 opposing the second hanging parts 212 and 222 whenmanufacturing the toilet seat 10 by pressing the mold M2 to the bottomplate 100 and the second hanging parts 212 and 222 and injecting theresin used to form the bonding members 310 and 320 into the recesses 216and 226 from the bottom plate 100 side. In the example, the force can betransferred to the lower end portions of the protruding parts 116 and126 opposing the second hanging parts 212 and 222. The lower endportions of the parts of the bottom plate 100 opposing the secondhanging parts 212 and 222 become parts of the injection inlets forinjecting the resin. Thus, by transferring the force accompanying thepressing of the mold M2 to the parts of the bottom plate 100 used asparts of the injection inlets, the contact pressure between the mold M2and the peripheries of the injection inlets can be increased withoutproviding a projection, etc. Thereby, the undesirable leakage of theinjected resin from the injection inlets can be suppressed appropriatelyeven without providing a projection, etc. It is unnecessary to add aprocess for removing leaked resin, a projection, etc., and the decreaseof the productivity can be suppressed. Accordingly, in the case wherethe top plate and the bottom plate are bonded by filling a resin, atoilet seat can be provided in which high cleanability and productivitycan be obtained while appropriately suppressing the resin leakage.

The entire circumference of the toilet seat 10 may not always have therelationship recited above. The side surfaces 112 a and 122 a mayinclude parts without the relationship of extending away from the secondhanging parts 212 and 222 downward in at least a part of the toilet seat10 in the circumferential direction.

Also, in the toilet seat 10, the virtual lines VL that are orthogonal toat least parts of the side surfaces 112 a and 122 a of the engagingparts 112 and 122 pass through the exposed surfaces 310 a and 320 a.Thereby, the force that accompanies the pressing of the mold M2 can betransferred more appropriately to the lower end portions of the parts ofthe bottom plate 100 opposing the second hanging parts 212 and 222 andused as parts of the injection inlets for injecting the resin (the lowerend portions of the protruding parts 116 and 126). Accordingly, thecontact pressure between the mold M2 and the peripheries of theinjection inlets can be increased further, and the resin leakage can besuppressed more reliably.

Also, in the toilet seat 10, the bottom plate 100 includes the opposingsurfaces 114 and 124 opposing the second hanging parts 212 and 222, andthe protruding parts 116 and 126 extending from the lower end portionsof the opposing surfaces 114 and 124 toward the second hanging parts 212and 222. Thereby, the pressure that accompanies the injection of theresin can be transferred via the protruding parts 116 and 126 to thelower end portions of the parts of the bottom plate 100 opposing thesecond hanging parts 212 and 222. Thereby, the contact pressure betweenthe mold M2 and the peripheries of the injection inlets can be increasedfurther, and the resin leakage can be suppressed more reliably.

Also, in the toilet seat 10, the protruding parts 116 and 126 includethe side surfaces 116 b and 126 b opposing the second hanging parts 212and 222, and the side surfaces 116 b and 126 b of the protruding parts116 and 126 approach the second hanging parts 212 and 222 downward.Thereby, the pressure that accompanies the injection of the resin can betransferred more appropriately via the protruding parts 116 and 126 tothe lower end portions of the parts of the bottom plate 100 opposing thesecond hanging parts 212 and 222, and the resin leakage can besuppressed more reliably.

Also, in the toilet seat 10, the angles between the bottom surface 100 bof the bottom plate 100 and the upper surfaces 116 a and 126 a of theprotruding parts 116 and 126 are less than the angles between the bottomsurface 100 b of the bottom plate 100 and the side surfaces 116 b and126 b of the protruding parts 116 and 126. Thereby, the pressure thataccompanies the injection of the resin can be transferred moreappropriately via the protruding parts 116 and 126 to the lower endportions of the parts of the bottom plate 100 opposing the secondhanging parts 212 and 222, and the resin leakage can be suppressed morereliably.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are cross-sectional views illustrating modificationsof the inner perimeter supporter and the inner perimeter sidewall partaccording to the embodiment.

Components that have substantially the same functions and configurationsas those of the embodiments recited above are marked with the samereference numerals, and a detailed description is omitted. Also, in themodifications described below as well, other than being symmetric withthe vertical direction as an axis, the configurations of the outerperimeter supporter 120 and the outer perimeter sidewall part 220 aresubstantially the same as the configurations of the inner perimetersupporter 110 and the inner perimeter sidewall part 210, and a detaileddescription is therefore omitted.

In the embodiments recited above, the widths of the second hanging parts212 and 222 are caused to decrease downward from the sidewall bases 214and 224 by the side surface 212 a of the second hanging part 212approaching the recess 216 side downward from the sidewall base 214.

This is not limited thereto; for example, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, thewidths of the second hanging parts 212 and 222 may be caused to decreasedownward from the sidewall bases 214 and 224 by the side surface 212 aof the second hanging part 212 approaching the recess 216 side downwardfrom the sidewall base 214 and by a bonding part 212 c between thebonding member 310 of the second hanging part 212 extending away fromthe bottom plate 100 downward from the sidewall base 214.

In such a case, the bonding part 212 c may extend away from the bottomplate 100 downward by being tilted as illustrated in FIG. 7A, or mayextend away from the bottom plate 100 downward by being curved in theform of a convex surface or in the form of a concave surface. Also, evenin the case where the side surface 212 a and the bonding part 212 c aretilted or curved, it is favorable for the lower end 212 b of the sidesurface 212 a of the second hanging part 212 to be positioned at therecess 216 side of the center Cl in the thickness direction of thesecond hanging part 212 as illustrated in FIG. 7A.

In the example as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the bonding part 212 c betweenthe second hanging part 212 and the bonding member 310 approaches thebottom plate 100 side downward from the sidewall base 214. For example,the bonding part 212 c may be tilted or curved in a recessed shape asillustrated in FIG. 7B. In such a case, at positions at the same height,the tilt angle or the curvature of the bonding part 212 c is less thanthe tilt angle or the curvature of the side surface 212 a.

Thus, because the bonding part 212 c between the second hanging part 212and the bonding member 310 approaches the bottom plate 100 side downwardfrom the sidewall base 214, for example, the lower end portion of thesecond hanging part 212 can be deflected more toward the bottom plate100 side when the pressure accompanying the pressing of the mold M2 isapplied to the second hanging part 212. Furthermore, due to theinjection pressure of the resin, a large contact pressure is generatedby the lower end portion of the second hanging part 212 stronglypressing on the mold M2 due to the force of the lower end portion biasedto return outward. Thereby, the resin leakage can be suppressed morereliably.

As described above, there is a possibility that the interface betweenthe bonding part 212 c and the bonding member 310 may be difficult todiscriminate due to mutual melting. In such a case, for example, it issufficient to use the part at which the components of the material ofthe second hanging part 212 become higher than the components of thematerial of the bonding member 310 as the interface (the bonding part212 c) of the second hanging part 212.

Hereinabove, embodiments of the invention are described. However, theinvention is not limited to these descriptions. Appropriate designmodifications made by one skilled in the art for the embodimentsdescribed above also are within the scope of the invention to the extentthat the features of the invention are included. For example, theconfigurations, the dimensions, the materials, the arrangements, themounting forms, etc., of the components included in the toilet seat 10,etc., are not limited to those illustrated and can be modifiedappropriately.

Also, the components included in the embodiments described above can becombined within the limits of technical feasibility, and suchcombinations also are within the scope of the invention to the extentthat the features of the invention are included.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet seat, comprising: a bottom plate; a topplate including a sidewall part and a seating part, the sidewall partbeing provided on the bottom plate, the seating part being supported bythe sidewall part; and a bonding member bonding the bottom plate and thesidewall part and having an exposed surface exposed externally, thesidewall part including a sidewall base supporting the seating part, afirst hanging part extending downward from a lower end of the sidewallbase and overlapping the bottom plate, and a second hanging partprovided to be separated from the first hanging part at the lower end ofthe sidewall base to provide a recess recessed upward between the firsthanging part and the second hanging part, the second hanging part beingdisposed at a position not overlapping the bottom plate in a verticaldirection, the bonding member being provided in the recess, the exposedsurface being disposed between the second hanging part and the bottomplate, a width of the second hanging part in a thickness direction ofthe sidewall part decreasing downward from the sidewall base, the firsthanging part, the recess, and the second hanging part being arranged inthe thickness direction of the sidewall part.
 2. The toilet seataccording to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the second hanging partfacing away from the recess approaches the recess side downward from thesidewall base.
 3. The toilet seat according to claim 2, wherein a lowerend of the side surface of the second hanging part facing away from therecess is positioned at the recess side of a center in the thicknessdirection of the second hanging part.
 4. The toilet seat according toclaim 1, wherein a width in the thickness direction of a lower end ofthe second hanging part is less than a width in the thickness directionof the exposed surface.
 5. The toilet seat according to of claim 1,wherein a bonding part between the second hanging part and the bondingmember approaches the bottom plate side downward from the sidewall base.6. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the bottom plateincludes an engaging part having a recessed shape, the engaging part isprovided at a position opposing the sidewall part and has a recessedshape recessed downward, the first hanging part engages the engagingpart, and a side surface of the engaging part facing away from thesecond hanging part extends away from the second hanging part downward.